Real-time data transmitter and receiver

Abstract: Before transmission of motion image data, the period of a frame of the motion image data is counted using a clock signal used for the transmission to produce a frame count. The motion image data is then transmitted along with the frame count so that it can correctly be timed in frames at receiver.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data transmitter apparatus and a data receiver apparatus between which desired data of e.g. motion image is transferred at real time. 2.Description of the Prior art As digital communication technologies being advanced, a variety of transmitter apparatus have been developed for transferring digital data of motion image through a transmission channel. Fig. 5 shows one such prior art for transmitting motion image data through a digital transmission channel, in which a transmitter 501 in a data transmitter apparatus 1 is coupled by a digital transmission channel 502 to a data receiver apparatus 2. The data receiver apparatus 2 comprises a clock reproducer 503 and a receiver 504. In operation, the motion image data in digital form is transmitted as a stream of bits from the transmitter apparatus 1 via the transmission channel 502 to the clock reproducer 503 in the receiver apparatus 2. At the clock reproducer 503, a clock signal synchronized with the bit stream is reproduced from the transmitted data. The transmitted or input data is processed by the receiver 504 with synchronization with the clock signal to reconstruct an original image. In such a manner, any motion image data can be transferred through the digital transmission channel. However, the processing of the input image data at the receiver apparatus 2 shown in Fig. 5 is controlled by the clock signal which is synchronous with a clock signal for data transmission through the transmission channel 502. More particularly, a frame synchronizing signal for reproducing the motion image is timed with the transmission clock signal. Accordingly, a frame synchronizing signal at the transmitter apparatus 1 has to be synchronous with the transmission clock signal. When the transmission channel 502 is connected to a plurality of asynchronous motion image data output apparatuses, its clock signal can be synchronized with only one of the apparatuses thus allowing the remaining apparatuses not to be simultaneously operated. In document "Video, Sampling and Network Synchronization in a TV codec" written by Manuela S. Pereira, et al. and published at the 6th Mediterranean Electrotechnical Conference, 22-24 May 1991, is a video system described comprising a coder and a decoder wherein the coder is transmitting encoded data to a decoder apparatus via a digital transmission channel with a video data rate of 140 Mbit/s. Since sampling and network clocks are a synchronous a frequency accommodation scheme using two video line memories is used. While one of these memories is being written, the other is read. The synchronization pattern is introduced in the beginning of each active line. The pattern consists of three active videos (SAV) words, comprising support information for the synchronization of the decoder and for providing video field information. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A real time data transmitter and a real-time data receiver according to the invention are respectively defined by claim 1 and 6. Advantageous modifications are defined by the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a transmitter apparatus and a receiver apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a transmitter in the transmitter apparatus and a receiver in the receiver apparatus showing a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a transmitter in the transmitter apparatus and a receiver in the receiver apparatus showing a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a transmitter in the transmitter apparatus and a receiver in the receiver apparatus showing a third embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 5 is a block diagram of a prior art system. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described referring to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a data transmitter and receiver system comprising a data transmitter apparatus and a data receiver apparatus according to the present invention. As shown, there are provided a motion image input 101, an encoder 102, a transmitter 103, a transmission channel 104, a receiver 105, a decoder 106, and a motion image output 107. A motion image data fed to the motion image input 101 is supplied to the encoder 102 where it is encoded to coded digital form. The coded motion image data is transferred along with frame period information for the motion image data through the transmission channel 104. At the receiver 105, the coded motion image data is separated from the frame period information and fed to the decoder 106. Simultaneously, the frame period information is processed in the receiver 105 reproducing a frame pulse signal. The decoder 106 decodes the coded motion image data using the frame pulse signal to reconstruct the original motion image data which is further transmitted from the motion image output 107. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a transmitter and a receiver. As shown, there are provided a frame pulse input 201, a data input 202, a clock generator 203, a transmitter clock counter 204, a data mixer 205, a transmission channel 206, a clock reproducer 207, a receiver clock counter 208, a data separator 209, a frame pulse output 210, and a data output 211. More specifically, the left to the transmission channel 206 in Fig. 2 comprises the transmitter in the transmitter apparatus and the right is the receiver in the receiver apparatus. A frame pulse indicating the start time of a motion image frame is fed from the frame pulse input 201 to the clock counter 204 where a count is updated by a transmission clock signal emitted from the clock generator 203 upon detecting the input of the frame pulse. More particularly, the input period of the frame pulse is defined by a number of transmission clock pulses which is referred to a frame count. The frame count is merged at the data mixer 205 with the motion image data supplied from the motion image input 202. A resultant stream of bits from the data mixer 205 is transferred through the transmission channel 205 as synchronized with the transmission clock signal emitted from the clock generator 203. The bit stream fed from the transmission channel 205 to the data receiver apparatus of the first embodiment is subjected to the clock reproducer 207 for separation and reconstruction of the transmission clock signal which is then sent to the data separator 209. At the data separator 209, the motion image data and the frame count are separated from each other using the transmission clock signal. The motion image data is transmitted directly to the data output 211 while the frame count is fed to the receiver clock counter 208 where the period of the frame pulse is reproduced by counting the frame count with the transmission clock signal. The reproduced frame pulse is then delivered from the frame pulse output 210 in synchronization with the motion image data from the data output 211. According to the first embodiment, the period of a frame determined in the transmitter can be restored at the receiver. In the circuitry arrangement shown in Fig. 2, the processing of the motion image data needs not to be synchronous with the transmission clock signal employed for data transmission. Hence, any motion image data asynchronous with the transmission clock signal can be transmitted with equal success. More advantageously, a plurality of asynchronous motion image data signals will be transmitted simultaneously. Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a transmitter and a receiver of a second embodiment. As shown, there are provided a frame pulse input 301, a reference input 302, a data input 303, a clock generator 304, a transmitter clock counter 305, a subtractor 306, a data mixer 307, a transmission channel 308, a clock reproducer 309, a receiver clock counter 310, an adder 311, a data separator 312, a frame pulse output 313, a reference input 314, and a data output 315. Apparently, the left to the transmission channel 308 in Fig. 3 comprises the transmitter in the transmitter apparatus and the right is the receiver in the receiver apparatus. A frame pulse indicating the start time of a frame in a motion image data is fed from the frame pulse input 301 in Fig. 3 to the clock counter 305. The clock counter 305 counts the duration of the frame pulse using a transmission clock signal emitted from the clock generator 304, thus producing a frame count. The frame count is transmitted to the subtractor 306 where it is reduced by a reference number supplied from the reference input 302 to calculate a difference. The difference is merged at the data mixer 307 with the motion image data supplied from the data input 303. A resultant stream of bits from the data mixer 307 is delivered to the transmission channel 308 in synchronization with the transmission clock signal emitted from the clock generator 304. The bit stream fed from the transmission channel 308 to the data receiver apparatus of the second embodiment is subjected to the clock reproducer 309 for separation and reconstruction of the transmission clock signal which is then sent to the data separator 312. At the data separator 312, the transmission clock signal is used to separate the motion image data from the difference. The motion image data is transmitted directly to the data output 315 while the difference is fed to the adder 311 where it is added with the reference number supplied from the reference input 314 to reproduce the frame count. The reproduced frame count is then transferred to the receiver clock counter 310 where it is counted using the transmission clock signal from the clock generator 309 to restore the period of the frame pulse. The restored frame pulse is then delivered from the frame pulse output 313 in synchronization with the motion image data from the data output 315. According to the second embodiment, not the frame count but its difference from the reference which are memorized in both the transmitter and the receiver is transmitted. It is known that the frame period of any asynchronous television signal of the existing TV system is found different by at best one percent from the reference. Therefore, as the difference between the frame count and the reference only is transmitted, the over all amount of data to be transferred for reproducing the frame period will be minimized. Also, even if the frame period is varied in length depending on its TV system, its data to be transmitted can be controlled to a uniform as is in the form of a difference from the reference. Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a transmitter and a receiver of a third embodiment. As shown, there are provided a frame pulse input 401, a data input 402, a clock generator 403, a transmitter clock counter 404, a lower-bit selector 405, a data mixer 406, a transmission channel 407, a clock reproducer 408, a receiver clock counter 409, a coupler 410, a data separator 411, a frame pulse output 412, an upper-bit input 413, and a data output 414. As understood, the left to the transmission channel 407 in Fig. 4 comprises the transmitter in the transmitter apparatus and the right is the receiver in the receiver apparatus. In operation, a frame pulse indicating the start time of a frame in a motion image data is fed from the frame pulse input 401 in Fig. 4 to the clock counter 404. The clock counter 404 counts the duration of the frame pulse using a transmission clock signal emitted from the clock generator 403, thus producing a frame count. The frame count is transmitted to the lower-bit selector 405 where a specific number of lower bits are selectively extracted from the entire bits of the frame count. The selected lower bits are merged at the data mixer 406 with bits of the motion image data supplied from the data input 402. A resultant stream of bits from the data mixer 406 is delivered to the transmission channel 407 in synchronization with the transmission clock signal emitted from the clock generator 403. The bit stream fed from the transmission channel 407 to the data receiver apparatus of the third embodiment is subjected to the clock reproducer 408 for separation and reconstruction of the transmission clock signal which is then sent to the data separator 411. At the data separator 411, the transmission clock signal is used to separate the bits of the motion image data from the lower bits. The bits of the motion image data are transmitted directly to the data output 414 while the lower bits are fed to the coupler 410 where they are coupled to the upper bits supplied from the upper-bit input 413 to reconstruct the frame count of binary form. The reconstructed frame count is then transferred to the receiver clock counter 409 where it is counted using the transmission clock signal from the clock generator 408 to restore the period of the frame pulse. The restored frame pulse is then delivered from the frame pulse output 412 in synchronization with the motion image data from the data output 414. It is noted that as previously described with the second embodiment, a difference between the actual frame period and its reference in common motion image data is so small that a particular number of lower bits of the frame count are sufficient to reconstruct the frame period at receiver side with the use of the reference. Also, the reference for the frame period may be a product of a simple integer and a power of 2, which permits the circuitry arrangement to be facilitated. In this case, the reference of binary form is expressed its upper bits as a binary number and its lower bits as 0s. When the reference is made with its upper bits identical to the upper bits of the frame count determined at the clock counter 404 in the transmitter apparatus shown in Fig. 4, the lower bits of the frame count are usable as a difference from the reference. It is now assumed that a television signal of 525/60 or 625/50 format is transmitted through the digital transmission channel at about 30 Mbit/sec according to the present invention. For example, the references for 525/60 and 625/50 formats of the frame period are predetermined respectively with a clock signal of 30 MHz as expressed by: 30 x 2 15 or 11110 000000000000000B (525/60) 36 x 2 15 or 100100 000000000000000B (625/50) As apparent, each reference of a binary form comprises a binary number of upper bits and 0s of lower bits. Then, if the frame period is (Reference)+α (0≦ α <2 15 ), the upper bits of the frame count (excluding 15 bits from the lower end) correspond to the upper bits of the reference. Hence, α is referred to as the difference. As the result, the frame count can be restored by substituting the lower bits (lowest 15 bits) of the reference with the difference α. As the upper bits of the frame count in the transmitter and the upper bits of the reference in the receiver are the same, the clock counters at both sides may be designed to count only lower bits except the upper bits for simplicity while utilizing data in the processor of motion image signals. If the transmission clock signal is generally of 30 x n MHz (n is an integer), the reference for the frame period may be determined as 30 x 2 15 x n for a 525/60, 1125/60 or 1050/60 television signal format and 36 x 2 15 x n for a 625/50 or 1250/50 television signal format. As set forth above, the present invention allows data of the frame period to be transmitted to a receiver at an accuracy of the transmission clock signal. Accordingly, in case that the frame period is moderate in accuracy, its data to be transmitted can considerably be reduced in amount by providing a minimum of the frame count or difference thus requiring less size of the circuitry arrangement. The present invention is also applicable to real-time transmission of other data than the motion image data. The present invention is compatible with a variety of transmission methods, frequencies, and apparatuses and may be embodied in the form of a software.

Claims: A real-time data transmitter apparatus for transmitting digital motion image data (202;303;402) through a digital transmission channel (206;308;407)in the form of a stream of bits transmitted in synchronisation with a transmission clock signal generated by a clock generator (203;304;403), the digital motion image data being accompanied with a frame pulse (201;301;401) occurring at intervals of a frame of a motion image, characterized by: a clock counter (204;305;404) responsive to the frame pulse for counting clocks of the transmission clock signal during each of said intervals to produce a frame count which indicates a start time of the frame of the motion image; and a data mixer (205;307;406) receiving the digital motion image data and coupled to the clock counter for merging a frame count information based on said frame count with the digital motion image data to produce composite data, the composite data being transmitted through the digital transmission channel (206;308;407). A real-time data transmitter apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: a difference generator (306) for generating a difference as said frame count information between the frame count and a reference (302) attributed to the data transmitter apparatus. A real-time data transmitter apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: a lower-bit generator (405) for separating a specific number of lower bits as said frame count information from the frame count produced by the clock counter (404). A real-time data transmitter apparatus according to one of the claims 1-3, wherein the frame count, the difference, or the lower bits are respectively reduced in accuracy before being transmitted. A real-time data transmitter apparatus according to one of the claims 1-4, wherein if the transmission clock signal is 30 x n MHz, where n is an integer, a reference for the frame period is expressed as 30 x 2 15 x n for a 525/60, 1125/60 or 1050/60 TV signal format and 36 x 2 15 x n for a 625/50 or 1250/50 TV signal format. A real-time data receiver apparatus for receiving from a digital transmission channel (206;308;407) composite data in the form of a stream of bits which comprise digital motion image data and a frame count information, for outputting the digital motion image data (211;315;414) and the frame count (210;313;412) which indicates a start time of a frame of a motion image, said apparatus having a clock reproducer (207;309;408) for reproducing the transmission clock signal from the received composite data, the frame count being a counting result of the clock pulses, characterized by: a data separator (209;312;411) for separating the frame count information from the composite data; and a clock counter (208;310;409) coupled to the clock reproducer (207;309;408) and the data separator (209;312;411) for counting clocks of the reproduced transmission clock signal and outputting the frame pulse every time when the count result becomes equal to the value indicated by the frame count. A real-time data receiver apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the frame count information separated from the received composite data by said separator (312) is a difference between a frame count and a reference, further comprising: a frame count reproducer means (311) for reproducing the frame count by adding the difference with a reference (314). A real-time data receiver apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the frame count information separated from the received composite data by said separator (411) are lower bits, further comprising: a frame count reproducer (410) for reproducing the frame count from the lower bits. A real-time data receiver apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the frame count reproducer (410) is reproducing the frame count by merging the lower bits with upper bits of a reference (413) which comprises a product of an integer and a power of 2.

Inventors: JURI TATSURO, JURI, TATSURO
Applicants: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC IND CO LTD, MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: H04N7
IPC codes: H04N7, H04J3